GREETINGS ALL
FROM CHERYL CLARSON

It’s Monday and today finds me well + happy.

Our weekend weather was my idea of perfect-o.  My cats were totally feeling it too.  Zooming around kicking up their heels – running, chasing, playing.  Made me laugh!

Not sure if you’ve noticed or not – but we’ve been doing some “re-decorating” sort of thing on Daymaker Readable Art site:

• The ads that were a total distraction and annoying are gone!
• Share buttons!
• New artwork that finds you in the email box on Monday, Wednesday, Friday.  Subscribe and see it!  We’ll be changing it out from time to time for a fresh and new cool piece of artwork in the email greetings.
• Clean-up of typos and little glitches that existed.
• Friendlier navigation throughout the site.
• Subscribe and Comments are no longer compromised.  (Fingers crossed you don’t hit a hiccup – if ya do – let us know and we’ll get it taken care of ASAP.)  We’re not finished yet – just wanted to share PROGRESS in the works.

The line-up of wonderfuls to click-on and check-out today are entertaining, inspiring and delicious-waiting-to-be-made!

Beginning with the Snuggle up or Scream October events.  Whether you are close enough to go to any — matters not so much — they’re all cool to read about.

Witty signage from El Arroyo outta Austin.  They’ve got a fun shop store of cards and small books – click here to check it out!  And their food is TDF!  I’ve been there several times.  Next time you’re in Austin – run don’t walk to the restaurant.  You won’t be disappointed.

The update story of the 150 year old Lahinais Banyon tree is miracle-stuff!

The 4 recipes are definitely a save and make SOON!

Can’t decide which is my favorite.  But the Pumpkin Seed Brittle is certainly tugging at me.  Cheese plate presentation or alongside a bowl of soup instead of bread or packaged in a cellophane bag (properly decorated) for gifting.

Tulip Flower Power – yes!  I’ve also read that we can put the tulip bulbs in pots (and daffodils, too) for a break through springtime event.  I, personally, am going to plant bulbs in pots around here – taking note from the article about timing and placement of the bulbs.

And last but, definitely, not least is the heart-beat-energy story of Tim (aka Goldie) Rock Star visiting nursing homes and bringing his one man show to the residents.  Wonderful human being!  I curtsy to you, Tim, bringer of joy where many would not even consider going.

I love, love, love when Tim shares that the best advice his dad gave him was something like – whether you’re playing for a group of 10 or a crowd of 10,000 – give them the same show.  Bravo!

I’ve watched the clip several times – and other than seeing Tim’s genuine sincerity and beautiful smile and performances – I totally noticed that a couple of the nursing home residents had a small stuffed animal they held or kept close to them.

I am so gonna go and buy a number of small stuffed animals, tie a ribbon around each happy little fluff and puff animal, and gift a piece of  joy to someone who now resides in a nursing home around Thanksgiving OR Christmas time.  Maybe both.

I think it’d be super cool if others thought about considering doing such in our small communities.  Spread the IDEA!

A funny, but meaningful story from my memory bank —
When my 2 sisters and I were young and visited our grandparents in Powell, Wyoming, my grandma would sometimes load us up in the car – along with plates of her homemade cookies – and we drove to the local nursing home.

And there – she would walk in – smiling and radiating love, swoop down and hug the residents and gift plates of cookies.

The residents were so happy just to have visitors!  It was a cool experience.

Then … came the performance time … hahaha
Grandma would instruct Jennie and Lisa and I, “Okay, girls, now we sing a song or two.”

“Oh, brother,” we thought – but we honored Grandma and sang.

By no stretch of the imagination does anyone in this family have the gift of a singing voice — but we did it.

The smiles that broke out on our “audience’s faces” still visits me today.  It was love-magic stuff.  I think it’s called extending yourself.  Grandma brought us to that place.  And I’ll never forget.

At this stage in my life, instead of singing – off tune – and not as a little kid led by our “choir director of 3” (aka Grandma) – I’m enticed with the gifting idea of the little stuffed animals!  Let it be JOY!

NOTICE REGARDING MY PETS article totally tickles my funny bone.  Truth is often times funnier than fiction.

Always. Always.  We are grateful for your time + comments + love.

Here we go!  Click and enjoy.

• Snuggle up or Scream with these October events
• Witty signage that are LOL !!
• This rare picture of the Southern Lights is awe-mazing
•  The brilliant trick for grating or shredding cheese
• here is an inspiring, beautiful read of a phoenix tree rising from the ashes  (so to speak ) – HELLO power of nature
• oh! my! this!   recipe for Chocolate Cream Pie
• Cozy Comfort Food Time!  Chicken and Dumplings
• Another stellar recipe for Cozy Comfort Food Time!  Tuscan Braised Beef with Marscapone Mashed Potatoes
• PUMPKIN SEED BRITTLE – and the crowd roars “Hooray”!
• Tulip Flower Power – gotta plan now
• Rock Star Takes the Stage at Nursing Homes – blue ribbon stuff !

NOTICE
REGARDING MY PETS

Dear Dogs and Cats:

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food.  The other dishes are mine and contain my food.  Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a race track.  Racing me to the bottom is not the object.  Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed.  I am very sorry about this.  Do not think that I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort.  However, dogs and cats can actually curl  up in a ball when they sleep.  It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible.  I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom!  If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door.  I must exit through the same door I entered.  Also, I have been using the bathroom for years – canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat’s rear end.
I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

1.   They live here.  You don’t.
2.   If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.  That’s why they call it ‘fur’-nature.
3.   I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
4.   To you, they are animals.  To me they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don’t speak clearly.

REMEMBER, DOGS AND CATS ARE BETTER THAN KIDS BECAUSE THEY:

1.   Eat less
2.   Don’t ask for money all the time
3.   Are easier to train
4.   Normally come when called
5.   Never ask to drive the car
6.   Don’t hang out with drug-using people
7.   Don’t smoke or drink
8.   Don’t want to wear your clothes
9.   Don’t have to buy them the latest fashions
10.   Don’t need a gazillion dollars for college
11.   If they get pregnant, you can sell their children

Amusing author unattributed
Courtesy and with permission from Mike and the Team
poeticexpressions.co.uk

WE CAN’T HELP EVERYONE
BUT EVERYONE CAN HELP SOMEONE
~ Ronald Reagan ~

HAVE A GREAT WEEK
CATCH YA ON WEDNESDAY
SAME TIME.  SAME PLACE.